Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is owned by "Nobuhiro" Watsuki. So please no suing.
AN: Thanks for your reviews and I'm definitely singing in my slippers right now coz you liked it. Here's another chapter.
However the setting is in America and the characters, mostly the two ladies, are Japanese but was born in America. I
kind of change the real character of Tomoe so please bear with me. And for all TOMEO-fans…This FIC is something
against here….so BEWARE.
Chapter 2
Kenshin stood on his ground not knowing what just happened. He stared at the disappearing figure, who just left a mark on his face. His eyes narrowed and turned on his back. Now, his thoughts centered only to his nephew. He went to where the nursery room was located and looked at his sleeping nephew through the big glass where Kaoru stood a while ago. He noticed the red locks of hair, the soft mouth, his pert little nose, and its alabaster skin. The thought of alabaster made him think of the woman-child he held in his hands. Her skin was soft and smooth. Her eyes, Kami-sama, her blue eyes turned to deep blue as anger flicker in it. He doesn't know if his reaction is good or not but one thing remained in his head, he sure as hell going to fight for this child who sleep peacefully in his cot. He left without a backward glance.
Kaoru stopped in the far side of the hospital. Her emotions were in total chaos than the last time. Her strength gave way and she stumbled on the ground. People started to looked at her worriedly, but they resume their pace as though they hadn't encountered her on the street. A sob escaped her small mouth as she looked at her reddened hand that placed limply in her thighs. She slowly stood up and started walked down the cold pavement of the street, all the while, thinking about her chaotic emotions. She couldn't remember when she'd let her emotion ruled her mind. She walked and walked and walked, uncertain where she would go. She looked from left to right searching for a familiar building leading to her apartment, but her mind went blank.
A taxi stopped in front of her and asked if she could use a ride, she agreed instantly and hopped in. Later that day, she arrived in her apartment. She opened it and slowly walked in and closed it. She leaned her back on the door as she looked at the once happy apartment but now dark and foreboding. Yesterday it was theirs, theirs to proclaim, theirs to celebrate, theirs to be proud of. But now it's all hers. Tears sprung in her eyes, she couldn't fight back anymore even if she wanted to…. she couldn't. All hope died in her heart, all spirit she possessed fled her whole body, and all happiness she had suddenly vanished as though a great monster had crushed it with it bare hands.
She raised her hands in front of her face and look back at it as though it were cursed. She eased herself in a sitting position at the foot of the door not daring to move as though it was all a dream; a dream that might come true. She closed her eyes and gave in to the pleasure of Oblivion. Great retching sobbed escaped her lips and she hugged her thighs all the while, not bothering to open the lights.
She reminisced the day their parents died. She was 17 and Tomoe was 18 when that dreadful night had happened and she remembered she didn't shed a single tear while Tomoe was crying her heart out. Their mother survived the car accident but for a while. Kaoru was the last person beside her before she passed away.
Kaoru swallowed hard as she thought about her mother's parting words… "I'm sorry my Kaoru….*coughs*…*coughs*…your father and I had never loved you as we love your sister. It was my fault but I couldn't care less because…..*coughs*…because you were born unplanned….Forgive your fat…." She stopped and cleared her voice.
"Mom…rest" Even though Kaoru protested, she knows no amount of protesting would stop her mother from spilling out the unproven doubts in her heart.
Her mother continued on, "your father for he… never loved you and so do I. I pray…. that you would forgive us and forget all that has t-t-transpired." She coughed so much that blood started to trickle on the side of her mouth. "Take care of your sister; you know what her condition is …" And then she drifted off leaving the lonely girl sitting beside her. That day she learned the things she tried to excuse whenever her parents were always protective of Tomoe. She was never loved, and she would never be. She stood up and went outside and looked at her crying sister.
Tomoe was always sick. She couldn't work because her bones are frail and single exhaustion might kill her. And because of that sickness, whenever she do something unforgivable the blame was always on Kaoru. Kaoru the innocent was always locked on the attic until dawn, freezing to death and hungry to her knees. Kaoru tried to hate her but she knows that she's the only relative she had that minute, so Kaoru did the only thing she could think of that time. They went to their mother's sister, Sakura, who decline them. But with Kaoru's persuasion, Sakura allowed the two to live in her house. With her Aunt Sakura at the background, social services could not take her. She had left school and gave up her childhood just to concentrate more on Tomoe. At first most restaurants cannot accept her because she looked under of age. Determination gave her the inspiration to continue. She bought make-up kits, anything that would make her woman, and then, one day, their future was secured. She was accepted as a waitress in a respectable coffee shop. That is where she met the friends she longed for for her whole life.
But that day started to doom her whole life. Every night she had come home exhausted to the bone but she cleaned the house, wash the dishes, everything that maid does. Sakura regarded her as unpaid household helper. And in her eyes she thought she was.
With Kaoru's allowances she had done her greatest to give Tomoe secured loving home. Tomoe continued her studies and strived. She became one of the honors in her school. And she continued to study. As years past by, Kaoru turned to 19 and Tomoe to 20, things are still the same. And Kaoru had found other accommodation than the last one. They moved to a new apartment and stayed their. With every achievement of Tomoe, Kaoru observed with helpless pride, she couldn't believe that they pulled through. She had been proud as any mother could have been. She had taken other part time jobs to sustain their future. Everything was going perfect until Tomoe met Akira Himura.
"Oh Kaoru, there was someone I met and he was truly wonderful. His rich, his handsome, and there is something in him that every girl would dreamt of having."
"That's great. It's like a dream come true" Kaoru said sarcastically. She took their plates and started to wash them. Tomoe also stood up and followed her. "Yup, it's a dream come true. If you could only see him, I'm telling you what you're saying is definitely true. And I know for a certain he's insane about me."
"All right, what was his name?" Kaoru scrubbed the plates and looked at her through her eyelashes.
Tomoe leaned on the counter next to Kaoru and looked at the ceiling. "His name is Akira Kiyosato Himura. Isn't it lovely?" She asked no one in particular. She looked at Kaoru, who was still washing the dishes, and looked at her intently. "Have you nothing to say?" She prodded
Kaoru replied with a shrugged and focused on the dishes. Tomoe left the counter and began to pace at the back of Kaoru. "Oh come on Kaoru, you're my little sister why don't you agree with me?" She asked brusquely.
"Will you describe this Akira Kiyosato Himura to me?" she diverted her sister's anger. She washed the last dishes and dried her hands with a towel hanging near the sink and went to the couch in the living room. Tomoe followed her like a dog and started describing.
"Well, Akira is taller than me in inches; his hair is dark reddish brown. But his brother is totally red hair and has intimidating eyes, but Akira's are soft. All I can say about those brother's is that their contradictory! His brother looks hard all over but Akira is something soft." Tomoe whispered the last word.
"You mean coward?" Kaoru said, more of a statement than question.
"He's not a coward; he's gentleman and something worth loving." She said dreamily.
Kaoru sighed and looked at her "You're besotted like a fool." She stood up and bid her goodnight. She heard her sister shouted at her as she closed the door and changed into her night dress and went to bed, but she couldn't sleep. She started tossing and turning but for naught, sleep won't claim her eyes.
After a week or two Tomoe arrived home from school with someone. That was when Kaoru met Akira. He was a year older than Tomoe; he was boyishly good-looking and full of careless charm. His eyes were purple and followed Tomoe's every movement as if he meant to devour her alive. He had talked to Kaoru as though she were Tomoe's mother rather than her younger sister. He was polite and courteous and by the end of her meeting, she felt like a middle-aged woman.
Before Akira went to the door, he took hold of Tomoe's hands and announced his intentions. "I really love your sister and I want to marry her. I'm asking for your permission and also your blessing." He looked at Tomoe and held her tightly
Kaoru smiled, but she had been appalled by their announcement. She thought about Tomoe's condition but she shrugged anyway. At least she knows her sister will have a good life.
"But our marriage will be in the future." Akira had stated smoothly.
Kaoru smiled radiantly at them "Then you have my blessing and besides she's my older sister of course I'll side with her." She said cheerfully. "When is the marriage?" she asked nonchalantly.
"After 3 years or 5, we still don't know." He answered
"What are you saying? I thought our marriage will be in 3 months?" She asked incredulously. Tomoe's attention centered to Akira, she with-draw her hands from his abruptly.
Kaoru could only stare at them. She really doesn't understand anything that was happening between them.
"We'll just talk about this next time okay. I really have to go." He paused and looked at Kaoru, "nice meeting you." He stood up and extended his hands and Kaoru shook it. He looked at his watch and started to walk towards the door
Kaoru accompanied him through the door as he went to his car and drove off. Kaoru looked at her sister's brooding face then back to the empty road. She closed the door and went to Tomoe. She smiled and said, "Lover's quarrel" and sat opposite from her.
"Tell me about them?" Kaoru asked
"Well, Akira was running a 3 star hotel in Japan. But his brother, you see, is the rich one." Tomoe answered
"What do you mean the rich one?"
"Well his brother owns shipping line, companies, and hotels. In short, you name it, they own it! Himura's are one of the billionaires here." She laughed.
After that month, Kaoru faced the one of worst nightmare of her life. She learned about her sister's early pregnancy with Dr. Gensai's help. The doctor called Kaoru and asked if she could come. Kaoru hesitated for a while but agreed when the doctor told her it is all about Tomoe. Kaoru arrived in the hospital and went to Dr. Gensai's quarters. There, he announced that Tomoe should have a termination because of her weak heart but she refused. He also told her the other complication pregnancy might bring her. Kaoru just sat there unable to bear any news any longer. 'Tomoe didn't even share anything about the pregnancy.' She thought. Dr. Gensai's voice brought Kaoru back to the living and said, "Tomoe is determined to have her baby; even I couldn't persuade her. I think you're the only who can."
Kaoru went home at seven. She was in dazed with a tight smile on her face as though she could almost scream in frustration. She went inside and found Tomoe watching the television. She approached her and sat opposite from her.
"Tomoe please tell me everything. Please I beg you everything that is going on with you and Akira. Please." Kaoru begged.
Tomoe looked at her and smile. But her smile didn't even reach her eyes. "I'm pregnant and it's Akira's son."
"I know that already."
"Then what do you want to know about?"
"About you and Akira"
"As you can see I'm pregnant" Tomoe said stubbornly
"Why won't you ask him to marry you? Instead of waiting for years."
"I can't because he's already married!" Tomoe whispered
"What?" Kaoru exploded "You've gone to bed with a married man?" She nearly shouted
"Akira and his wife were divorcing and I agreed to wait for him. And I..I know that Akira loves children."
"So you're doing this to him. You're doing this to your self? You're ruining your life!" Koru looked at her as though she's someone for the first time.
"It is mine to ruin. You don't have to think about me!" Tomoe responded in a near shout.
"The hell I don't!" Kaoru raged
"Why don't you think your own business, instead of thinking about me!" Tomoe rant too
"You're my business Tomoe since our parents died, you became my business. In this instance I'm your older sister now." Kaoru shouted
Tomoe raised her hand in the air and looked at the ceiling as she said, "My God, I can't believe my own parents gave me to this insensible, ungrateful sister." She looked at Kaoru. "You know what little sister. Don't give me this shit. It is because you never loved someone doesn't mean that I can't love someone too. And besides, I already know you have a black heart coz mama and papa had never loved you. You always give them pain in the ass." She jeered.
Kaoru took a hasty step backward, her face lost its wonderful color and started to shake her head when Tomoe started nodding, "Yeah, you're right. It's always my fault because you know what…I did it on purpose." Kaoru, couldn't stomach the truth, stood up abruptly and walked toward her room and slammed it so hard the vase near the mantle quivered. Tomoe was left in the living room all alone.
Kaoru sat on the foot of the bed and thought about her sister. Everything she said was true but still she loved her. She couldn't take it anymore. All her troubles suddenly appeared out of no-where made her like a fifty year-old spinster with dozen of children to take care of. She drew her knees to her chest and hugged it. She fell down on the bed and stared at the window. She couldn't cry about the facts about her parent's emotions towards her. She closed her eyes instead and fell asleep instantly.
After two months, she noticed Tomoe was becoming frail than ever. She brought her to Dr. Gensai with or without her cooperation.
"Tomoe don't stress yourself it's for your health. You are too exhausted. Try to think of something that will erase this stress in your head."
After that night Tomoe and Kaoru didn't bother to talk about Akira anymore. On the 8th month of Tomoe's pregnancy Kaoru's friend, Misao, called and asked them to celebrate with them. Tomoe was excited and her face bloomed. That night everything happened at once. The sisters were going home when Tomoe's cellphone rang. She answered it and was happy for a while then she screamed in pure horror. Kaoru went to her side immediately. She took the cellphone and demanded an answer from the other side of the phone.
Akira answered solemnly, "I can't marry Tomoe anymore. I can't and I won't. Tell her I'm sorry but we have to end our affairs." Then the phone was dead. Kaoru looked at Tomoe and felt her faint on her arms and blood suddenly gushed out between her legs. In exasperation, dread rapidly enveloped her being and she rushed her to the hospital. It happened to quickly for her to react or to think that God was on her side.
Kaoru opened her now-dry-eyes and slipped on the floor. She laid there and stared at the darkness. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes she whispered in the air, "Everything started to change….Everything will never be the same again." A minute or two she fell as sleep, like before.
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AN: Minna what do you think about chapter 2. When I received your reviews I immediately made this second chapter. All of you are totally great. Given the encouragement I need, all of you did just that. And I hope you love it. This chapter is more on the past and the next chapter will be more on Kenshin and the others. Please I need all your Reviews so that I could have inspirations in my next chapter. I accept flames and I hope I made you enjoy this chapter. J
Thanks for the Following:
angelstarhikaru() –Well, this chapter…I made it gloomy and more on Kaoru's past. Its seems the story is somewhat dull,
so I enlighten the background of Kaoru with little twist. Hope I still can see you in my next chapter
you definitely enlighten my mood with your review. Arigato
gaby - Yeah, I kinda made it different from others. It seems that most of the fics started love or admiration
from the two most wanted characters so I made a little difference. Hope you loved it and I love
hearing from you.
The evil witch - I'm certainly enjoying my vacation and hope so do you. Well I do not dislike Kaoru but it seems cool
if I her life cruel for a while. By the where is Kine (I kinda haven't heard of that ) but I love hearing
from you and I'm you inspired me to create this story. J
kenshin's-angel - Yeah poor Kaoru but I kinda killed Tomoe on purpose just to make Kaoru's life a little miserable but
this fic is for her. About my grammar, I haven't checked it. My first chapter is out of boredom so I
posted it without checking about my grammar but thanks anyway for your compliment. It totally got me
off the hooked and I love your review! J
blond goth() - I'm glad you loved this story. I really intended to kick Kenshin ass just to prick his manly ego.
hehehehehe. About Tomoe,Akira wasn't her husband as I explained in my story. I hope I kinda cleared
the air out. And I love hearing from you. And hope your also having a fine vacation as mine.
are-en1 - Akira wasn't Tomoe's husband in the first place. And he is absolutely Kenshin's "Twin" brother but I
changed some of Akira's appearance like the hair and the eyes so that he would fit in my story
perfectly. And about Tomoe's relationship, its not that they committed adultery but they did. J I really
love hearing from you and from your suggestions and questions you just gave me inspiration. And I
hope I'll hear from you soon.
half-breed-demon-fox – I'm glad you love my story. I really can't wait to post this chapter so that I could hear from you
guys again. I love your review and it definitely gave me inspiration as to how I should continue this
story.